The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-12
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR.
4 s1srxnHooD OF PURE CHARITY.

| in this city about seventeen years and have
| founded two homes, one at POT East Seventieth
| street, and the other, moro recently, at 106th
street and Ninth avenue. They have met with
great sympathy and encouragement here as
elsewhere in the United States, where they
have at present In all thrty-four homes. The
| well-known object OF the charity is to take
care OF the aged and disabled poor Of both
sexes. not under 60 years Of age. to load them
to accept and enjoy willingly the consultations
OF religion during the time they have to livs
and through them to find a peaceful and happy
death. No distinction is made as regards
creed or nationality the only requirement being
that the applicant be OF good moral character,
The Sisters have 20 provide for the old inmates
in their homes food and clothing, and to nurse
and watch them when sick. They have no in
come whatever from any fund, endowment, or
Government allowance: they depend entirely
on charity. and are obliged to go around to So
licit its offerings Their rule is that the needs
Of the old people under their particularly In
the matter offood. have priority over their own.
It does not seem ns II there ever would DO oc-
casion for them to apply that rule in this city,
for they receive from generous and apprecia-
tive public food and clothing In abundance.
quite sufficient, indeed. to provide for larger
number than they now harbor.
The history Of the foundation Of their society
is very curious and edifying. A more hum
BILE beginning cannot we'll DO conceived.
On the northern coast OF Brittany, that part
OF France extending furthest into the Atlantic,
Is the old walled town OF st. Malo. which, in its
day. has stood many severe siege. Opposite
to and separated from 1t by IN inlet which Is
dry twice o day at low tide is the little town Of
st. Servan. which has become place Of resort
for English people who seek to live at small
expense. The men there. as elsewhere on the
coast Of Brittany. are mainly sailors or fisher
men, and, OF course, many are lost at sea. often
leaving widows with hardly any way OF getting
living except through public charity.
The Able Augusta LIE Pailleur, devoted
charitable, and self-denying priest, was in
1888 vicar at st. Servan. 1t was q cause Of
constant and great grief to him that 80 many
| widows Of seafaring men In his parish and its
neghborhood were nero beggars, spending
their days in q deplorable state OF vagrancy.
hanging around the churches, which they
never entered. were strangers to the divine
| mysteries celebrated. therein. addicted to all
manner OF vice. and living and dying in most
unheard-of ignorance OF the things necessary
for salvation. The restitution Of the poor
souls that called forth his pity was utter and
complete. St. Servan had no home nor asylum
for the aged poor. About this time two pious
young girls. one not 1s and the other hardly 16.
each feeling religious vocation. and having
to work for living. had placed themselves un-
der his spiritual direction. The good priest
was led to view in them. particularly in the
aiHSs the Blessing q bisne proSdenee
make beginning OF the good work which he
ana or sp He adSised them to Become in
serve God In one and the same religious COM
therefor, drew up for them little set of regu-
lstiohs for their mode Of life, one, Of which was
to behave with mi illness and kindness toward
poor. inflrm, and sick old people: they we're
not to refuse them care and assistance when
we're particularly to avoid meddlin in what
did not concern them, Every Sunday. after
shore and there. sheltering themselves in q
their respective adherence during the past
hs had SssI
ssSS s close q which he opSasd Eis mind to
hood 50 old Tke yoans girls obeSed
spent all their leisure time with the poor infrm
limited sbities spent their little savings for
$s Sad ss Rseh sSiy ns Rss Ss%
| to perform. In time Divine Providence threw
their WY an ola seryan ~ lr Jsann so Jpgon
alone and whose !abors more than suificed for
her daily wapts. The girls became acquainted
and took lodgings in the same garrett with her;
MARY al the time she could
Theresa, in the year 1910. they brought into tho
little room occupied by Jeanne theo Door blind
several months previous and as there was yet
| little room to spare. they brought IN another
e has S Il Es
| on her spinning; the other two busted them
selves with their sewing, or laundry work.
the two infirm. old women. The vicar aided the
little community IN germ ss far as he could,
But this much could not satisfy them; they had
to see about extending their work. A fourth
IL ae q Of s
wss ths custom In days OF to
too. gave herself up to the service Of inflrm and
They continued to reside in the garnet about
| ten months, which constituted. as 1t were: the
q
then hired basement room which had long
been used as a wine shop-low damp. and al
there was room for twelve beds. Which We're
These four Servants Of the poor had now as
much as they could do to attend to their board
.pa 81 to
selyes and the destitute helpless beings they
had taken under their protection. The benev-
olent society Of the town gave some assistance.
CO M SsTa and
went, out, every day to beg. The sisters pre-
tanned from charity. But beggary placed these
old women in constant danger Of re!arsing into
their former bad habits. and particularly that OF
drunkenness. the dominant vice Of those un-
posed to his children to be not only the SER
| wants Of the poor but also to become beggars
| out OF love for them and for the glory OF God.
No soonsrT, was the sacrifice pointed out than i
Jeanne was the first to take O basket, sally
out and call, at all the houses at which her
poor people had usually obtained assistance,
Ever since that day they have gathered the
| food Of the poor by means of this holy and
| noble mendicity. At the outset every one was
surprised and touched by this exhibition, OF
extraordinary devotedness and the collection
WAS moro abundant and far more varied than
any ever made by the Door women, so that
their poor Jared much better than ever before.
In one instance an appeal for linen needed,
made at the festival Of the Assumption. brought
an abundant response.